Adventures with Geannii

              Visiting my daughter and her family is always an adventure. We never plan anything—just chaos with a GPS. We went to Union Station. Gorgeous building. They’ve restored it to its original grandeur. People were taking graduation photos, quinceañera photos, prom pictures… Meanwhile, I’m standing there like, “We need a family group.” We ate at Harvey’s. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans—$14 a plate. Gigantic portions. I’m like, who eats this much .” My son-in-law Rob—he’s a natural comedian. I asked him to take a family picture. This man turned into Ansel Adams on crack. He’s crouching, rolling on the ground, twisting the phone like it’s a Nikon with a $5,000 lens. Even the security guard came over, staring like, “Do I arrest him, or just get in line for headshots?” Later at home, my grandson Z wanted to play Sequence. After three games, he loses focus. I said: “Hey Travis, Montana Michael—whatever your name is, kid, your tu...

  Spring Break. I thought I’d be working—bummer. Then my coworker goes, “Hey, if you wanna see your grandsons, I’ll cover things.” That was all I needed. I grabbed my pre-packed bag—because yes, I keep one ready like I’m in the witness protection program—and hit the road. On the way, I called my daughter. “Hey, surprise! I’m coming for the weekend!” Now, in my head, she was going to squeal with joy… instead, there was a long pause followed by: “…Thanks for the warning, Mom.” I had forgotten—she works full time, has two boys, and a husband who counts as the third. She was imagining me walking in, judging her messy kitchen like an undercover HGTV host. So I said, “Don’t worry about it, honey. I left MY house messy too.” And she goes, “But don’t you have a housekeeper?” “Yes… but she doesn’t live with me. And I’ve left the dishes all week.” Meanwhile, my car decided to become part of the story. I hit the car wash—suddenly OnStar is in my ear. “We need to set this up.” H...

   So my friend Pamela asked me, “Have you ever been to Tybee Island?” I said, “No, what’s that?” She goes, “Wanna go?” And of course—I said yes. I’m up for any adventure. But here’s the thing: it’s not just a weekend. Oh no. This is a full week with her family. I’m excited… but I’m also quietly praying we’re still friends when we get back. You guys remember Oprah and Gayle’s road trip, right? Yeah—besties when they left, but by the time they got home… awkward silence. Gayle wanted the radio ON, Oprah wanted it OFF. Next thing you know—two separate cars, two separate hotel rooms. I’m just saying—if Oprah can’t survive a road trip with her best friend, what chance do I have? Now—this trip lands on my birthday week. it beats crying into my Dr. Pepper because Van isn't here to celebrate it with me. I won't be alone, I'll be hitting the Beach, thrift stores, Gatlinburg, and… a Christmas shop. Nothing says “Happy Birthday” like buying a Christmas Ornament in Augu...

Hi, I’m Geannii . For 44 years, I was married to my best friend, Van. He went home to be with the Lord in 2022, and I found myself at a crossroads: I could either pull the covers over my head and declare myself done with life, or… I could strap on my bra, lift my chin, and carry him with me in my heart while I keep on adventuring. I chose the latter. That’s how I ended up with a shiny new car that talks to me, grandkids who keep me laughing until I cry, sisters who can turn any day into a circus, and memories so wild they demand to be written down. This blog is my kitchen table — where the coffee’s hot, the stories are real, and sometimes the laughter sneaks in where you least expect it (usually right after the tears). Pull up a chair. I’ve got plenty to tell you.